Jaclyn Hawkins (born February 28, 1985) is a Canadian former ice hockey player for the Connecticut Huskies women's ice hockey program, the ZSC Lions Frauen of the Switzerland women's ice hockey league and the Boston Blades of the former CWHL. Hawkins is an entrepreneur and the founder and owner of WomensHockeyLife Ltd, WHL Podcast, WHL Profile, WHL Academy, and WHL Gear.
Playing career
Prior to her NCAA career, Hawkins played at South Carleton High School in the Ottawa, Ontario area with future St. Lawrence Skating Saints women's ice hockey skater Chelsea Grills. In the first eight games of the 2000 season, both Grills and Hawkins averaged four points a game as the South Carleton Storm started the season with an 8–0 record. Hawkins transferred from South Carleton High School so that she could compete for the Taft School and the CT Polar Bears in Connecticut at the age of 15. Hawkins captained both Taft and the Polar Bears during her Senior year, claiming Gold at the 2004 US National Championship.
NCAA
At the end of her freshman season (2004–05), Hawkins finished second nationally among freshmen in goals scored with 25 and third in points with 40. Her goals and points numbers led the Huskies, while breaking the program's single-season marks for both categories, respectively. In addition, she was a four-time Hockey East Rookie of the Week award winner. Her 18 goals in conference play led all Hockey East skaters. She was a contributing factor in the Huskies reaching the Hockey East championship game as she scored more than a quarter of the Huskies' goals.
On October 21, 2006, she set a Hockey East record (and tied an NCAA record) with three power play goals in one game. This was accomplished versus the Maine Black Bears and was part of a five-point game; it was her second hat trick in five games. In her sophomore and junior campaigns, she was the Huskies' leading scorer (sophomore numbers: 12 goals, 15 assists and 27 points; junior numbers: 18 goals, 18 assists and 36 points).
After her senior season, Hawkins set a program record with 27 assists and finished as the Huskies' all-time leading scorer (69 goals, 75 assists, 144 points). In addition, she became the first Husky to win the Hockey East Sportsmanship Award. Hawkins was captain of the Huskies in her junior and senior seasons, and was an alternate captain during her sophomore season.
Europe
In 2009-10, she relocated to Zurich, Switzerland and competed for the ZSC Lions. Her 55 points (29 goals, 26 assists) led the Lions, as she helped the squad advance to their first appearance in the Swiss Championship game. In addition, she was selected as one of the Swiss League's Most Valuable Players. Hawkins was selected by the Boston Blades in the 2010 CWHL Draft.
Boston Blades
Joining the CWHL's Boston Blades during their inaugural season (2010-11), it was a roster that included future Hockey Hall of Fame member Angela Ruggiero, future American Hockey League executive Hayley Moore, and future Toronto Six General Manager Mandy Cronin. Along with a number of USA Hockey alums, including Kacey Bellamy, Caitlin Cahow, Jessica Koizumi and Erika Lawler, Hawkins, wearing number 19, made her debut in Blades colors on January 8, 2011 versus the Brampton Thunder. Appearing in seven games overall, the 2011-12 season saw Hawkins finish ninth in team scoring.
Amassing 11 points in 18 games played, Hawkins, with the #21 adorned on the back of her jersey, enjoyed a three-game scoring streak from February 19 to 26, 2012. Recording six points during said streak, Hawkins recorded her first career hat trick in CWHL play, scoring a goal in every period during a 9-2 triumph on February 19 over the Burlington Barracudas.
Of note, her first career CWHL point took place on December 11, 2011, in a road affair versus the Toronto Furies, logging an assists on a third period goal by Micaela Long. The next game, a December 17, 2011, home affair versus the visiting Brampton Thunder saw Hawkins enjoy her first career goal in the CWHL, logging the game-winner, unassisted, versus goaltender Liz Knox at the 5:36 mark of the second period, part of a 3-1 final.
